The Moving picture world (January 1925-February 1925)

January 17, 1925 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 269 "The Qr eat est Love of Air Associated Exhibitors Offer George Beban in Appealing Characterization of Italian Immigrant Reviewed by C. S. Sewell On the dramatic and musical comedy stage, in vaudeville and on the screen, during a period of several years, George Beban has become a familiar figure with his portrayals of a definite character type, that of a voluble, volatile, poorly educated Italian immigrant, with intense love for his immediate family and a well-developed sense of humor. It is just such a character as this that he portrays in "The Greatest Love of All," which has already been presented in a number of theatres throughout the country as a novelty, with the climax, the trial scene, acted on the stage by Mr. Beban and the original cast, and is now being distributed entirely in film form through Associated Exhibitors. The story concerns a poor Italian ice dealer who brings his mother to this country. To aid him to buy a small farm she takes in washing and a missing bracelet is found in the basket. She is arrested and sentenced to prison but finally, after the iceman has saved the district attorney's life, her innocence is proved and all ends happily. This picture is rich in heart interest and sentiment and pathos and depicts the intense love of this man for his mother with unusual intensity. There is also an abundance of comedy relief, the smiles mingling with the tugs at the heartstrings, and certainly George Beban is a past master at handling characterizations of this type. A weakness lies in the fact that it is hardly probable any jury would have convicted the mother on such inconclusive evidence, especially in view of the effective play upon the emotions, and the solution of the robbery is also weak. Mr. Beban's support is excellent. Especially fine is Marie di Benedetta as his mother. This delightful old lady does not seem to be acting but just to be a real loving, somewhat bewildered Italian mother. Mary Skurkoy is effective as Joe's sweetheart and J. W. Johnston does good work as the district attorney. At the Rivoli, where the trial scene was acted, the audience liked it, and the film record follows it closely, with the necessary elimination of some of the dialogue, but the most effective parts are retained. "The Greatest Love of All" compares favorably with Mr. Beban's previous pictures and should abundantly satisfy his fans. It will probably prove a pleasing attraction for patrons who like Italian characterizations and stories with strong emotional appeal. Cast District Attorney J. W. Johnston His Wife Wanda Lyon Their Daughter Baby Evelyn Marie Siinpkins Nettie Belle Darby Cobbler O. Zangr.Ui Trina MaT* Skurkoy Joe, the Iceman George Beban His "Sweetheart" Marie dl Benedetta Judge William Howett Attorney John K. Newman Court Officer Robert M. DoU Interpreter George Humbart Story and direction by George Beban. Length, 6,400 leet. Story Joe, a poor Italian iceman, living in a basement, prepares for the coming of his "sweetheart" from Italy, and this makes his friend, Trina, sad, until she discovers it is really his mother. A gangster trying to get away hides in the basement and the police find him. In the scuffle the furniture is destroyed and the cop wants to arrest Joe's mother for aiding the thug. On a picnic Joe aids the district attorney, who is shot by one of the thugs, and Joe's mother secures his laundry on the quiet to help Joe. A diamond bracelet disappears and detectives see Joe's mother just as she finds it in the soiled linen. She Is arrested, tried and convicted. Joe is sore, and the thugs plan to use him to "get" the district attorney by "planting" a golf ball filled with explosives. Trina goes to the district attorney's wife for help and she discovers that their little baby Is in the habit of taking jewels and throwing them In the clothes basket. Joe almost loses his life in trying to save Trina, who appears just as the district attorney is about to hit the ball. Joe's mother is freed and the two with Trina and her father find happiness In the little home in the country. "East of Suez" Pola Negri Appears as English-Chinese Girl in Colorful Paramount Adaptation of Stage Play Reviewed by C. S. Sewell In the Paramount adaptation of Somerset Maugham's stage play, "East of Suez," Pola Negri for the first time portrays an Oriental role, that of a girl half English and half Chinese. The entire action takes place in China, and the story shows the girl as ostracized by the white people because of her Oriental blood. She is sought after by three men, a high-class Englishman who weakly gives her up and then returns to marry her, another Englishman whom she marries in desperation and an intriguing Chinese mandarin. The outstanding point of this picture is its Oriental atmosphere, and this has been effectively played up. The contrasting psychology of the Orient and the West furnishes much of the drama, the settings and even the subtitling being designed to accent this note. Changes in the story show the girl as being entirely dominated by her white blood and a victim of seemingly unjust racial prejudice, but the role does not succeed in establishing very strong sympathy, for she shows no force in combating an unkind fate. Also, the hero, while weak-willed, acts as the average man would under such circumstances, and you do not really blame him. A belated display of force of character on his part brings about the desired happy ending when the husband is the victim of poisoned wine taken by accident. It will be seen that the story is not a pleasant or particularly strong one and in fact the plight of the heroine is tragic until near the end. The theme is melodramatic, and much is made of Oriental intrigue in the wierd character and dark plotting of the sinister Chinese mandarin. There is good drama in some of the situations, especially the climax, with unusually strong and sustained suspense while you are waiting for the husband to carry out his threat and wondering which of the three drank the poison. Pola Negri does good work but it is not a role that shows her to full advantage, for her opportunities are limited, the men in the story dominating the plot. Edmund Lowe as the hero and Rockliffe Fellowes as the villain are capably cast, while Sojin Kamiyama, who made a personal hit in "The Thief of Bagdad," handles a similar role with uncanny effectiveness. "East of Suez" will have its greatest appeal for patrons who are fascinated by Ori ental atmosphere and intrigue. For the general public we doubt if it will prove altogether satisfying entertainment. Cast Daisy Forbes Pola Negri George Tevis Edmund Lowe Harry Anderson Rockclirt'e Fellowes British Consul Noah Berry Lee Tai Sojin Kamiyama Amah Mrs. Wong Wing Based on play by Somerset Maugham. Screen play by Sada Cowen. Directed by Baoul Walsh. Length, 6,716 feet. Story Daisy Forbes returning to China after having grown up in England soon finds her father has just died, and she is socially boycotted. She discovers the reason is because she is half-caste, her mother being a Chinese woman who poses as her nurse. George Tevis who came to take a position in the government service, loves her, but is persuaded by his uncle to renounce her. Lee Tai, a sinister mandarin uses all his oriental cunning, including drugs to get 'hold of her and succeeds, but she is rescued by an Englishman, Anderson, and she marries him In desparation, but is unhappy as Anderson awakes to the fact that he too is shunned. Tevis finally determines to defy conventions and marry Daisy but finds she is the wife of Anderson who has told Daisy he will kill Tevis if he sees them together. Tevis returns to bid Daisy goodbye. Before Anderson can carry out the threat, he drinks wine poisoned at Lee Tai's orders and intended for Tevis and falls dead. Tevis takes Daisy back to England and Lee Tai Is executed according to Chinese law. "Frivolous Sal" Western Melodrama with Wonderful Background and Abundance of Thrills Has Good Cast Reviewed by Tom Waller A western melodrama of the old school with a wonderful mountainous background and thrills galore should insure First National's "Frivolous Sal" a good reception at the average box office. The success of this picture with sophisticated audiences, however, is a matter for consideration. It would seem that there is a superfluity of sub-titles, of the stereotyped and hackneyed class which over-explain action in the production which in most instances is perfectly obvious. "Frivolous Sal" boasts an excellent cast. Eugene O'Brien, Mae Busch and Ben Alexander are featured. The performance of the three, however, may not be considered up to their usual standard by some audiences. Their acting in certain parts is conspicuously automatic, as if they were over-directed. This is particularly so of their portrayal of emotional highlights, of which there are many in this picture. The film runs close to eight reels and this condition would probably be less apparent were the shears used, especially in the earlier and later footage. Nothing is left to the imagination in the presentation of the thrills. A horse and driver are seen to fall in an attempt to cross a chasm. The camera follows them from the time they start to fall until they are dashed on the rocks far below. A fight in a western saloon is most realistically portrayed. Both men are weakened to the point of exhaustion and covered with gore before it is finally terminated. One scene which will arouse the maximum suspense of any picture patron is a battle in a tram car high over a valley between two great hills. O'Brien and Mitchell Lewis are the contestants, fighting over a bag of stolen gold. They claw at one another's face (Continued on page 270)